By Amanda Shaw
Published: Jun. 4, 2024 at 12:43 PM EDT|Updated: Jun. 4, 2024 at 5:36 PM EDT
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Two dozen suspects accused of trafficking drugs in the Upstate for Mexican cartels pleaded guilty in court.
The investigation, nicknamed “Las Señoritas,” uncovered drug trafficking operations in Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee Counties.
Officials said the suspects would coordinate with inmates in the South Carolina Department of Corrections via contraband cell phones to deliver methamphetamine from Mexico across the Upstate.
Two of the suspects were renting AirBnB homes in Greenville and using them to deal meth.
Investigators seized more than $800,000 worth of meth and 39 guns associated with the case between 2021 and 2023. Several of the main targets in the investigation fled the country to escape prosecution.
Charges were filed against more than three dozen suspects in connection with the investigation, officials announced in 2023.
“Methamphetamine is poison – period – and people who bring it to and sell it in South Carolina will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. “If you’re a Mexican drug cartel or a local dealer and you’re spreading this poison or other drugs in our communities, then we’re coming for you.”
Wilson said on Tuesday that the following defendants entered guilty pleas:
Harlie Danielle Willford: Pled on 11-30-23; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 32–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 33-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 34- Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Oconee 2022-GS-47-17
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 2-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Melissa Hope Finley: Pled on 11-30-23; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 19–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 23–Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Value $10K or More
- Count 24–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 25-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Angela Nicole Welborn: Pled on 11-30-2023; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 17-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
Taylor Suzanne Oates: Pled on 11-30-2023; Sentenced to 16 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 17-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 18-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Heather Marie Griffin: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 12 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 16-Trafficking Methamphetamine 28-100 Grams
Arther Shane Mashburn: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 18 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 35-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 37-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28-100 Grams
- Counts 38-39-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Anderson 2022-GS-47-20
- Count 16-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 17-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Travis Matthew Bentley: Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Anderson 2022-GS-47-20
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 3-Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotic Drugs in Schedule II (Fentanyl)
Monica Denise Bearden: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 1–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
Malary Lynn Bates:Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 18 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 5-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 6-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 7-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Counts 10-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Stacy Lynn Brooks: Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 2 –Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 3–Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 4–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Counts 5-8– Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 42-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, but Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 43-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Heather Michelle Hamilton: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 25 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 14-Trafficking Methamphetamine 28-100 Grams
Wade Douglas Watkins: Pled on 05-16-24; Sentenced to 19 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Randall Jason Simmons: Pled on 05-16-2024; Sentenced to 19 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 34-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 35-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 36-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 37-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Failure to Stop for Blue Light, 2nd or Subsequent Offense
Kasey Leigh Rasberry: Pled on 05-16-2024; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 24-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 26-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 27-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More But Less Than 100 Grams
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